A new building doesn’t always impress the neighbours, as was proven when a group of protestors showed up at the Raleigh, Tennessee, retreat of Love in Action International, a quasi-religious group whose agenda is to turn gay people straight.

In LIA’s own words, their mission is to prevent and/or treat the “unhealthy and destructive behaviours facing families, adults, and adolescents.” For the most part, those behaviours are limited to homosexuality. Founded in 1973, LIA is today directed by Reverend John Smid, who claims LIA helped him overcome the cocksucking ways of his youth. Smid admits that some of the kids are brought against their will to LIA for “healing from sexual brokenness.” Protestors accuse LIA of trying to brainwash teens who might already have trouble dealing with their sexuality and suggest emphasis should be put on understanding.

According to some who’ve known Smid, understanding isn’t his forte. One ex-LIA member, Tom Ottosen, says Smid once told him, “I would rather you commit suicide than have you leave Love in Action wanting to return to the homosexual lifestyle.”

» Scott Saxon